§ Mr. Jacques ArnoldTo ask the President of the Board of Trade what targets he has set the National Engineering Laboratory for 1993–94.
§ Mr. McLoughlinWhen it was launched as an executive agency in October 1990, the National Engineering Laboratory was set the target of recovering its full costs through "arms-length" contracts from customers by 1994–95. This is still its primary target.
Other key targets I have set the laboratory for 1993–94 are as follows:
- to obtain the return of and review at least 60 per cent. of contract completion questionnaires from clients;
- to carry out customer consultations and post-completion reviews of 20 per cent. of all contracts valued in excess of £250,000;
- to achieve laboratory-wide ISO 9001 accreditation by 31 March 1994;
- to increase the number of non-DTI customers who provide revenues of more than £100,000 per annum by 50 per cent.; and
- to complete the training of nominated staff in eight competences covered by the four current training programmes.
I have also set the chief executive of the agency the target of replying within 10 working days to letters from MPs delegated to him for reply.